Objection to Mr. CHENG Kar-shun’s nomination to the CPPCC on the grounds of vessel smoke pollution

This is a copy of a letter objecting to Mr. CHENG Kar-shun’s nomination as a representative on the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on the grounds he is not a fit or proper person to represent Hong Kong because of vessel smoke pollution:

Smoke pollution in Hong Kong harbour caused by New World First Ferry vessel Xin Guang on 20 February 2013

Company: New World First Ferry Services Limited

Location: Central Outlying Islands Ferry Pier 5, Hong Kong.

Vessel: Xin Guang

Time: 1408 hours

Date: 20 February 2013

New World First Ferry still polluting after 8 years – blame incompetent crews for their problems.

Complaint of smoky ferries by Hong Kong Outdoors in 2005

In August 2005, Hong Kong Outdoors complained to New World First Ferry about smoky ferries. This was their response:

“Thank you for your comments.

The vessels are required to undergo annual docking and upon meeting all the requirement, are granted licenses to operate by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.

We noted your concern and concur with your goodself that smoke emission shall be reduced. For those aged-old ordinary vessels, we have been conducting regular maintenance and trial schemes to keep those vessels at their optimal performance.

Thank you for your patronage and comments.

Regards, Fiona Fong

Customer Service Division

New World First Ferry Services Limited”

See link below:

http://www.hkoutdoors.com/pollution/marine-pollution-smoky-ferry.html

Complaint of smoky ferries by Hong Kong Pollution Watch in 2013

In January 2013 Hong Kong Pollution Watch complained to New World First Ferry about smoky ferries. This was their response:

“Thank you for your email.

First Ferry concurs with you that the importance of protecting our environment should not be overlooked and therefore, diversified measures have been implemented to help reduce the damage to the environment.

Despite the fact that the absence of sufficient buffer zone for our local-route ferry, especially the triple-deck ferry to slow down the vessel gradually before taking berth at the Central Piers, which resulted from the abrupt decelerating and occurrence of black smoke caused by the incomplete combustion and vice versa, First Ferry has issued an instruction to remind the coxswains to maneuver the fuel lever to reduce the smoke emission. Besides, First Ferry has been regulating the overhaul schedule for the main engine from bi-yearly that is required by the Marine Department to yearly pro-actively, following with routine maintenance in order to ensure the proper functioning of the engines. 

Moreover, First Ferry had not only rendered our support to the trial of Ultra-Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD) on local vessels launched by the Environmental Protection Department in 2009, to help exploring the feasibility of switching to USLD which causes less damage to the environment, but also sat in a Task Force established by Environmental Protection Department to study the switch of low-sulphur diesel among the local vessels since last May.

Currently, every First Ferry vessel will undergo annual docking to ensure that the black smoke emitted is below level two of Ringelmann smoke chart for three minutes, that is stipulated by the Marine Department.

Please be assured that First Ferry will review the current measures in preserving the environment consistently and assess the feasibilities to implement further environmental protection measures under the straitened operating environment.

Should you have further enquiries, please feel free to e-mail us again or contact our Customer Service Officers at 2131 8181.

Best regards,

Carol Chow

Customer Service Division

New World First Ferry Services Limited”

Comment

In the last eight years, New World First Ferry have failed to take any appropriate steps to protect the health of the people of Hong Kong, yet according to them, the remedy is simple: .

“First Ferry has issued an instruction to remind the coxswains to maneuver the fuel lever to reduce the smoke emission.”

In other words, New World First Ferry Vessels are blaming their incompetent crews for causing the smoky pollution caused by their ferries.

The other problem – New World First Ferries are meeting the lax standards set by the Marine Department, which allow them to pollute, so there is no incentive for them to change.